A group of students, faculty and staff represented St. Thomas University as ambassadors at the historic Mass to honor Our Lady of Charity with 8,000 people in attendance.  

The ambassadors participated in the procession and liturgy and invited the community to join the St. Thomas University Family. The team also provided information on STU degrees, financial aid opportunities and the Vision 2000 Scholarship, available to   Catholic high school students. St. Thomas University also helped Catholic Charities raise awareness of the Relief Drive for the victims of Hurricanes Fay, Gustav, Hanna and Ike in Cuba and Haiti.

The STU team included STU faculty members Dr. John Carpenter, Dr. Joan DiGregorio, and Professor Marcela Moyano, together with Chief Marketing Officer Marivi Prado and students, which included Fernando Rosero, graduate student from The School of Leadership Studies and Yesenia Ruiz, Lynne Roman, Aileen Valdes, Karen Mejia, Perpertua Obi, Egardo Meraz and Maria Garavito, all undergraduate students from Biscayne College.
 
Archbishop John Clement Favalora led the Mass along with other Florida bishops and STU Director of Campus Ministry Father Harry Loubriel. Ongoing prayers were said for the victims of the hurricane at the historic Mass. The event marked 40 years of the Virgin's statue arriving in Miami after being smuggled from Cuba by island exiles as well as the celebration in the Archdiocese's Jubilee Year.

St. Thomas University extends its deepest appreciation to the students and faculty members for representing our Catholic values and showing solidarity to our brothers and sisters in the Caribbean.